Fan support housing



Aug. 25, 1953 Filed March 3, 1948 W. J. MORRILL FAN SUPPORT HOUSING 2Sheets-Sheet 1 W/rMsss [lECTE/C WELDEE A 8- 1953 w. J. MORRILL 2,650,020I FAN SUPPORT HOUSING F'ne March 3, 194a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W/rNEsaPatented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates in general to a housing for supporting a fan and inparticular, to a neat appearing housing which may be stamped from sheetmetal.

An object of my invention is to provide a fan support housing which iseconomical and easy to manufacture, yet is sturdy in construction.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fan housing which may beconstructed by welding a front support member and a back support membertogether. v

Another object of my invention is to construct a housing from supportmembers in which the outer walls are wider than the inner walls toprovide access to both outer walls for fastening the members together.

Another object of my invention is to provide a support fan housing whichmay be constructed by stamping a front support member and a back supportmember from sheet metal and fastening these support members together.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a stamped supportmember for a fan housing which has a side portion with an openingtherein, an outer wall portion extending perimetrically thereabout andperpendicular thereto and which has an inner wall portion extendingabout the opening in the side portion and perpendicular to the sideportion.

vision of stamped support members, each having a side portion with anopening therein and having an outer wall portion integral with the sideportion and extending perimetrically thereabout and abutting the outerwall portion of the other support member, and each having an inner wallportion extending about the opening and toward the other support member,with the outer wall portions of the support members connected together.

Other Objects and a fuller understanding of my invention may be had byreferring to the follOWiIlg description and claims, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 of my drawings is a front elevational view of my fan supporthousing with a fan supported therein and With a screen fastened to theback of the housing;

Figure 2 is a back view of my housing with the screen removed to betterillustrate the supporting of the fan motor;

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an exploded sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 2with the parts of the A further object of my invention is the pro- 2housing separated to better illustrate the structure of each part;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating the welding of the front andback support members together;

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of a modification of my fan supporthousing with a fan supported therein and with a screen fastened to theback of the housing;

Figure 7 is a back view of my modified housing, with the screen removedto better illustrate the supporting of the fan motor;

Figure 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is an exploded sectional view along the line 99 of Figure '7,with the parts of the housing separated to better illustrate thestructure of each part and with the inner band omitted; and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view illustrating the welding of the frontand back support members of my modified housing to the alignment memher.

My new and useful fan support housing is illustrated in Figure 1 assupporting an electric fan. The phraseology used in my description, andthe structure illustrated in my drawings describe the preferredembodiment of my invention but do not thereby limit the scope of theinvention. My preferred fan support housing, which is illustrated assupporting an electric fan, generally comprises a front support memberl0 and a back support member ll fastened together by spot welding. Thefan motor is supported by support arms l3, carried by the back supportmember II. A grill or wire screen l4 may be placed over the back of thisfan as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 to make the fan much safer and tostop insects from going through the fan. When my fan support housing iscompletely assembled, the fan is supported within the housing so thatthe grill l4 could be placed either on the front or the back of thehousing.

The front support member l0 has a front side portion i 6 with a largeopening therein. This front side portion 16 is illustrated as beingsubstantially rectangular in shape and having a circular opening;however, it is understood that the side portion may be constructed ofany desired shape. When the rectangular shape is used, the fan supporthousing may be inserted in a window. In Figure 4 I illustrate the exactconstruction of this front side portion IS. The front support member hasan outer wall portion l1 integral with the front side portion I6 andextendin about the perimeter thereof. The outer wall portion I! isdisposed substantially perpendicular to the side portion 16. The frontsupport member also has an inner wall portion 18 integral with the frontside portion l6 and extending about the opening in the front sideportion I6. This inner wall portion i8 is also substantiallyperpendicular to the front side portion It.

In constructing the front support member I0, I have found it veryeconomical and efiicient to use stampings from sheet metal or othersimilar materials which may be formed on punch presses. The wallportions are drawn to the correct size and position during this stampingand drawing process by the punch press. been necessary to build thesehousings from many separate pieces. I have eliminated much of thisexpense by punching a blank with an opening therein and drawing thisblank into the shape of the support member to provide the integral sideportion and the wall portions, It is noted, by looking at. the drawings,thatthe inner and outer wall portions are close together on the sides ofthe "support member and are spaced far apart at the corners of thesupport member. This spacing variation between the wall portions iscaused by making the perimeter of the side portion rectangular and. bymaking the opening inthe side portion circular.

The-outer wall portion I! extends substantially perpendicular fromthefront side portion and terminates. in anedge [9 which is inaplanesubstantially parallel to the plane of the front side portion 16.Similarly, the inner'wall portion 18 terminates in a substantiallyannular edge as which is disposed in a plane substantially parallel-tothe plane of the front side portion [6. The edge [9 of the outer wallportionl 1 is spaced further fromthe front side portion-t6 than theedgezll of the inner wall portion I8.

The back. supportmember H is constructed in the same manner as the frontsupport member IE3. Ihavedesignated this back support member Has havinga back side portion-22. with an outerwall portion. 23 and an inner wallportion 24. In construction, the back side portion 22 and the wallportions 23 and 24 are substantially equivalent to their respectiveportions in the front support member Hi. I have also designated theouter wallportion 23 of the back support member as I terminating in anannular edge 25 and the inner wall portion M as terminating. in ananular edge 26. Since the outer wall portions have a greater width thanthe inner wall portions, the annular edgelt of the inner wall portion zl of the back i support member H is spaced from the annular edgefztl ofthe inner wallpcrtion .8 of the. front supportmember It.

In. the preferred construction of my fan support housing, I have foundit very desirable to provide the front support member with a neckportion '50. This neckportion 5fl-is a partof the outer wall. portion [land defines the edge It. When the frontsupport member ill and the backsupport-member II! are assembled, the back support member I l extendsover the neck portion 5&3. My preferred fan support housing is very easyto assemble and manufacture. The support members are constructed onpunch presses with the front support member '6 having the neck portion58. The back support member H is slipped over top of. this neck portion50 so that the edge 25 of the front support member engages the wallportion 5| defined by the neck 5% The wall portion BI is formed betweenthe outer surface of In prior art, it"has 'outer wall portions.

"tions. inner electrode 52 engages the neck portion 56,

the outer wall portion l1 and the outer surface of the neck portion 59.The edge !9 of the neck portion 59 of the support member It thus is disposed within the wall 23 of the back support member ll. After the frontand back support members have been slipped together, they are spotwelded as illustrated in Figure 5. In spot welding the front and backsupport members it and II together, one'electrode 52 is inserted throughthe space'between the inner wall portions of the support members andagainst the inside of the The other electrode 53 is abuttedagainst theoutside of the outer wall por- Thus, as illustrated in my drawings, the

and the outer electrode 53 engages the outer wall 23 of the'back supportmember. I have discovered-that by constructing the two support memberswith the inner walls of less width than the outer walls, I can weld thefront and back support members together without using any speciallybuilt equipment. It is also understood that'this gap'between the innerwalls of the front and back support members is of sufiicient width topermit riveting or bolting of the outer walls together, should'thi'stype of construction be desired.

Ihave preferably fastened the spaced support arms I3, which are disposedparallel to each other to carry the fan therebetw'een'to the inner wallportion 24 of the back support member H. The inner wall portionM of theback support member has shoulders ZBstamped'therein. These shoulders 28.are disposed in planes'perpendicular to the axis of'the support arms orrodsand each has an openi'ng'29'tlierein. The, ends ofithe sup port armsl3 abut against the respective shoulders 2 B, and each end of eachsupport. arm has a threaded bolt hole therein. Bolts 30"are'threadableintothese bolt holes and extend through the openings 29 to bolt thesupport arms i3 to the inner wall portion 24 of the back support memberll. I'have found it desirable to bolt these support arms to the innerwall portion; however, it is understood'that they may be welded to thewall portion. Cross arms 3! may be fastened to of the inner wall portion24 of the back support.

This band 32 has tabs 33 punched therein to extend between the edges- 20and 25 of member I l the inner'wall portions. These'tabs 33'are spacedso that some of the .tabs engage the edge 29 of the inner'wall portionl8v of the front support membr I0 and other of the tabs engage'the edge26 of the'inner wall portion 24 of the back support. member I I. Whenthe band 32 is inserted to cover this spaceibetween the inner wallportions, the tabs 33 are extended to engage the respective edges of theinner wall portions. Then the band will not. become disengaged from thesupport: members and will make a neat appearing internal housing surfaceextending aboutthe fan.

My new and improved fan housingis very easy to manufacture and assemble.The front and back support members Hi andv II are stamped from sheetmetal in the samepunch press. The back support members are thenprocessed to provide the inner wall portion with the shoulders 28. Thesupport arms l3 are fastened to these shoulders 28 before the supportmembers l0 and I! are fastened together. After the front and backsupport members have been spot welded or otherwise fastened together,the band 32 is inserted within the inner wall -portions and the tabs 33set against the respective edges of the inner wall portions to hold theband'in place. The fan motor is then fastened by the cross arms 3! tothe parallel-spaced support arms and the grill fastened to one side ofthe fan support housing. When my fan support housing is thus completelymanufactured and the fan installed, it will readily slide into arectangular or square opening in the building and provide a neatstructure.

Figures 6 to 10, inclusive, illustrate the manufacturing and theconstruction of the modification of my invention. In the drawings,similar numbers are used to indicate parts similar to those of thepreferred embodiment of my invention. In the modified form of myassembled housing, the edge IQ of the outer wall portion ll of the frontsupport member I8 is aligned with and abuts the edge 25 of the outerwall portion 23 of the back support member. I have thus omitted the neckportion on the front support member, and in its place I have substitutedan alignment member l2.

The alignment member I2 as illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10 of mydrawings is constructed preferably of a channel member to give itgreater strength. The outer wall portions ll and 23 respectively of thefront and back support members Ill and I l engage this alignment memberl2. Although I spot weld the outer Wall portions to this alignmentmember, it is understood that the outer wall portions may be fastened tothis alignment member by other suitable means, such, for example, asbolts. When the outer wall portions are fastened to this alignmentmember, the edge [9 of the outer wall portion ll engages the edge 25 ofthe outer wall portion 23. As has been previously stated, the inner wallportions are of less width than the outer wall portions; thus, when thefront and back support members are connected or fastened to thisalignment member l2, there is a space between the edge 20 of the innerwall portion I8 and the edge 26 of the inner wall portion 24. I havefound it very desirable to provide this space for the welding of thealignment member and the outer wall portions. During the weldingoperation, one of the electrodes of the spot welder easily extendsbetween the edges 20 and 2'6 of the inner wall portions [8 and 24 tocontact the alignment member I2.

After the front and back support members have been fastened to thealignment member, the band 32 may be inserted into the housing to coverthe space between the inner wall portions. Thus, the construction andmanufactur is very similar to that of the preferred embodiment of myinvention.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of exampleand that numerous changes in the details of construction and thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sheet metal fan housing for supporting a fan in a generallyrectangularly shaped opening,

said housing comprising front and back stamped sheet metal supportmembers, each having a rectangularly shaped outer perimeter and acircular opening therein, each support member having a drawn sheet metalinner wall around the circular opening and a drawn sheet metal outerwall around the outer perimeter, both integral with the support memberand extending transversely therefrom, said outer walls of said front andback support members terminating in abutting edges, a fastening memberwithin said outer walls permanently secured to each outer wall andholding the outer walls in co-planar edge abutting relationship, saidinner Walls terminating in edges spaced from each other, a circularsheet metal band within said inner walls and overlapping each innerwall, bendable tabs fastening said band in overlapping engagement withsaid inner walls, and fan support means carried by the inner wall of oneof said support members for supporting the fan in said opening.

2. A sheet metal fan housing for supporting a fan in a generallyrectangularly shaped opening, said housing comprising front and backstamped sheet metal support members, each having a rectangularly shapedouter perimeter and a circular opening therein, each support memberhaving a drawn sheet metal inner wall around the circular opening and adrawn sheet metal outer wall around the outer perimeter, both integralwith the support member and extending transversely therefrom, said outerwalls of said front and back support members terminating in abuttingedges, a fastening member within said outer walls permanently secured toeach outer wall and holding the outer walls in co-planar edge abuttingrelationship, said inner walls terminating in edges spaced from eachother, a circular sheet metal band within said inner walls andoverlapping each inner wall, said band'having bendable tabs bent overthe edges of said inner Walls and holding the band in overlappingengagement therewith.

3. A sheet metal fan housing for supporting a fan in a generallyrectangularly shaped opening, said housing comprising front and backstamped sheet metal support members, each having a rectangularly shapedouter perimeter and a circular opening therein, each support memberhaving a drawn sheet metal inner wall around the circular opening and adrawn sheet metal outer wall around the outer perimeter, both integralwith the support member and extending transversely therefrom, said outerwalls of said front and back support members terminating in abuttingedges, a fastening member within said outer walls permanently secured toeach outer wall and holding the outer walls in co-planar edge abuttingrelationship, said inner walls terminating in edges spaced from eachother, a circular sheet metal band within said inner walls andoverlapping each inner wall, said band having bendable tabs bent overthe edges of said inner walls and holding the band in overlappingengagement therewith, and fan support arm means carried by the innerwall of one of said support members for supporting the fan in saidopening.

4. A sheet metal fan housing for supporting a fan in a generallyrectangularly shaped opening, said housing comprising identical frontand back stamped sheet metal support members, each having arectangularly shaped outer perimeter and a circular opening therein,each support member having a drawn sheet metal inner wall around thecircular opening and a drawn sheet metal front andibackrsupport'.membersterminating in abutting edges; a fastening. member withinsaid outer:walls "permanently secured to each; outer wall and holding-the outerwalls in co-plan'ar edgedabutting relationship, said innerwallsterminating in edges spaced .from each .other, a .cir-

cularrsheet metal band; within said inner walls andioverlapping'eachinner wall, said band having-bendable tabs bent over .theedges of saidine ner walls and holding the band in overlapping engagement therewith;and. fan' support' arm means carried: by thes'innerxwall of one-ofsaidsupport" members for :supporting the fan in said opening:

5; sheet: metal fan housing 'forsupporting a fanin'agenerallyrectangularly shaped opening; saidxhousing; comprising frontand back' stamped sheet metal support" members, each having arectangularly shaped. outer" perimeter andta, circular openingctherein;each support member :having: a drawn sheet :metal innerawal-ldefiningthe circular opening and a drawn sheet metal. outer wall aroundthe outer-perimeter, both integral with the. supportimember:andsextending. substantially perpendicularly; therefrom; said outerwallsof sai'd front andtback support members terminating iciniattachmentedges; .weld' means permanently securing;togetheriisaidouter walls atsaid attachment .edges withith'e outer. walls inco-planar relationship,said'inneri. walls:

terminatingiin edges spaced. from each other, a

circular sheet metalibandwithin. said'inner walls and overlapping eachinner cwall' and extending substantially: parallel to saidinner: walls,and

bendable tabs onrone of said. inner'walls and-said band fastening saidband in overlappingxengagement with said inner walls, toth'erebyestablish said'housing ashavinga substantially rectangularcross-section'along all radial lines with such recs tangles of constantlength asdeterminedby-said support-members and'oi varyingawidth'v asdetermined by the-variation'in spacingbetweenv said circular-inner wallsand band-and said rectangularou-ter walls.

6; Ina fan housingfor' supporting'a fan in a substantiallyrectangularly-sh'aped opening; the provision of "a stamped front support.mem her and a stampedback support member, .each

of said stamped support 'members having a side portion. and having a.drawn inner wall portionv anda drawn outer Wall portion-integraltherewith, said side portionbeing substantially rectangular in shapeandhaving a circular opening an attachment edge, said drawn inner wallportion extending about said circular opening and perpendicular to theside :portion and toward the opposite support member, the outer wallportion of the front support member being aligned with the outer wallportion of the back support member in co-planar relationship, supportarms carried: by,'th'e='inner Wallportion' of oneof the support membersfor supporting the fan motor within the housing, weld means permanentlysecuring together said outer wall portions at said attachment edges,said inner wall portions terminatingin edgesspaced from each other, acircular. sheet metal band within said inner wall portions andoverlapping each inner wall portion" and extending substantiallyparallel thereto, and bendable tabs on one of said inner wall portionsand said band fastening said band.

in overlapping engagement with said inner wall portions, to therebyestablish said housing as having a substantially *rectangular crosssection along allraclial lines with.suchrectangles'of' constant'length'as'determinedzby said-side portions. and of "varying .width'rasdetermined by. the.

variation inispacing between'isaid j'circular inner wallportionszand'rband iand' said rectangular outer wall portions.

WAYNEJ. MORRILL.

References: Cited in the: file of .this patent UNITED STATES PA'TEN'I'SNumber Name Date 1,687,843- Miller Oct. 16, 1928 1,761,752 Scott June 3,1930 1,912,594 Sauzedde June 6, 1933 2,001,151" Ne'wnham May-1 1, 19352,385,152 Morrison Sept. 18, 1945 FOREIGN i PATENTS:-

Number Country Date 594,165 GreatBritain Nov. 4, 1947'

